@article {5017, title = {Remote sensing for species distribution models: An illustration from a sentinel taxon of the world{\textquoteright}s driest ecosystem}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {106}, year = {2025}, month = {02/2025}, pages = {e70035}, abstract = {

In situ observed data are commonly used as species occurrence response variables in species distribution models. However, the use of remotely observed data from high-resolution multispectral remote-sensing images as a source of presence/absence data for species distribution models remains under-developed. Here, we describe an ensemble species distribution model of black microbial mats (Nostoc spp.) using presence/absence points derived from the unmixing of 4-m resolution WorldView-2 and WorldView-3 images in the Lake Fryxell basin region of Taylor Valley, Antarctica. Environmental and topographical characteristics such as soil moisture, snow, elevation, slope, and aspect were used as predictor variables in our models. We demonstrate that we can build and run ensemble species distribution models using both dependent and independent variables derived from remote-sensing data to generate spatially explicit habitat suitability maps. Snow and soil moisture were found to be the most important variables accounting for about 80\% of the variation in the distribution of black mats throughout the Fryxell basin. This study highlights the potential contribution of high-resolution remote-sensing to species distribution modeling and informs new studies incorporating remotely derived species occurrences in species distribution models, especially in remote areas where access to in situ data is often limited.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, Antarctica, McMurdo Dry Valleys, microbial mats, remote sensing, species distribution modeling, species occurrence}, issn = {0012-9658}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.v106.210.1002/ecy.70035}, url = {https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ecy.70035}, author = {Thapa-Magar, Khum B. and Eric R. Sokol and Michael N. Gooseff and Salvatore, Mark R. and John E. Barrett and Joseph S. Levy and Knightly, J. Paul and Power, Sarah N.} } @article {4989, title = {Response of a terrestrial polar ecosystem to the March 2022 Antarctic weather anomaly}, journal = {Earth{\textquoteright}s Future}, volume = {12}, year = {2024}, month = {08/2024}, pages = {e2023EF004306}, abstract = {

Record high temperatures were documented in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, on 18 March 2022, exceeding average temperatures for that day by nearly 30\°C. Satellite imagery and stream gage measurements indicate that surface wetting coincided with this warming more than 2 months after peak summer thaw and likely exceeded thresholds for rehydration and activation of resident organisms that typically survive the cold and dry conditions of the polar fall in a freeze-dried state. This weather event is notable in both the timing and magnitude of the warming and wetting when temperatures exceeded 0\°C at a time when biological communities and streams have typically entered a persistent frozen state. Such events may be a harbinger of future climate conditions characterized by warmer temperatures and greater thaw in this region of Antarctica, which could influence the distribution, activity, and abundance of sentinel taxa. Here we describe the ecosystem responses to this weather anomaly reporting on meteorological and hydrological measurements across the region and on later biological observations from Canada Stream, one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems within the McMurdo Dry Valleys.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, atmospheric river, climate variability, extreme weather, polar desert, soil biota}, issn = {2328-4277}, doi = {10.1029/2023EF004306}, url = {https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2023EF004306}, author = {John E. Barrett and Adams, Byron J. and Doran, Peter T. and Hilary A. Dugan and Myers, Krista F. and Salvatore, Mark R. and Power, Sarah N. and Snyder, Meredith D. and Wright, Anna T. and Michael N. Gooseff} } @article {4030, title = {Responses of Antarctic Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems to Changing Ice Conditions}, journal = {BioScience}, volume = {66}, year = {2016}, month = {Jan-10-2016}, pages = {864 - 879}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, issn = {0006-3568}, doi = {10.1093/biosci/biw109}, url = {https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/biosci/biw109https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/66/10/864/2415532/Responses-of-Antarctic-Marine-and-Freshwater}, author = {Maciek K. Obryk and Peter T. Doran and Friedlaender, Ari S. and Michael N. Gooseff and Li, Wei and Rachael M. Morgan-Kiss and John C. Priscu and Schofield, Oscar and Sharon E. Stammerjohn and Steinberg, Deborah K. and Hugh W. Ducklow} } @article {3215, title = {Recovery of Antarctic stream epilithon from simulated scouring events}, journal = {Antarctic Science}, volume = {27}, year = {2015}, month = {Jan-08-2015}, pages = {341 - 354}, abstract = {

Microbial mats are common in polar streams and often dominate benthic biomass. Climate change may be enhancing the variability of stream flows in the Antarctic, but so far studies investigating mat responses to disturbance have been limited in this region. Mat regrowth was evaluated following disturbance by experimentally scouring rocks from an ephemeral McMurdo Dry Valley stream over two summers (2001\–02 and 2012\–13). Mats were sampled at the beginning and resampled at the end of the flow season. In 2012\–13, mats were additionally resampled mid-season along with previously undisturbed controls. In 2001\–02 rocks regained 47\% of chlorophyll\ aand 40\% of ash-free dry mass by the end of the summer, while in 2012\–13 rocks regrew 18\% and 27\%, respectively. Mat stoichiometry differed between summers, and reflected differences in biomass and discharge.\ Oscillatoria\ spp. were greatest on scoured rocks and\ Phormidium\ spp. on undisturbed rocks. Small diatoms\ Humidophila\ andFistulifera\ spp. increased throughout the summer in all mats, with the latter more abundant in scoured communities. Collectively, these data suggest that mats are variable intra-annually, responsive to hydrology and require multiple summers to regrow initial biomass once lost. These results will aid the interpretation of long-term data, as well as inform Antarctic Specially Managed Area protocols.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, issn = {0954-1020}, doi = {10.1017/S0954102015000024}, url = {http://www.journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0954102015000024}, author = {Tyler J. Kohler and Ethan Chatfield and Michael N. Gooseff and John E. Barrett and Diane M. McKnight} } @article {1341, title = {Reach-scale cation exchange controls on major ion chemistry of an Antarctic glacial meltwater stream}, journal = {Special issue of Aquatic Geochemistry on the McMurdo Dry Valleys}, volume = {10}, year = {2004}, pages = {221-238}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Michael N. Gooseff and Diane M. McKnight and Robert L. Runkel} }